Vehicle protection system to secure a protective covering to an axle of a vehicle

Abstract

A system for protecting the body and frame of a vehicle from flying debris, particularly during a tire blowout includes a mounting apparatus configured to secure a protective shield, which may be a protective plate and/or fender, to an axle of a vehicle. In embodiments, the protective plate may be mounted to the axel via a mounting apparatus, and the fender may further be mounted to the mounting apparatus and/or protective plate. In some embodiments, the protective plate may be mounted directly to the axel, and the fender may further be mounted to the protective plate, whereby the plate may serve as the mounting apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for protecting a vehicle comprising:
 one or more back plates that form a lower semi-circular cutout that is configured to receive an axle of the vehicle, the one or more back plates being configured to cover a portion of a back side of a tire connected to the axle; 
 a lower wing plate bracket that forms an upper semi-circular cutout that is configured to receive the axle of the vehicle opposite the lower semi-circular cutout; 
 a first C-plate bracket and a second C-plate bracket, the first and second C-plate brackets forming opposing semi-circular cutouts that are configured to receive the axle, the first and second C-plate brackets being configured to couple to and reinforce the one or more back plates and the lower wing plate; and 
 a fender that is supported by the one or more back plates, the fender being configured to extend around an upper portion of the tire. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the one or more back plates, the lower wing plate bracket, the first C-plate bracket, and the second C-plate bracket are configured to be secured to an axle bracket. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the axle bracket extends around the axle. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the axle bracket forms a circular opening that receives the axle. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second C-plate brackets are secured to a back side of the axle bracket. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second C-plate brackets are configured to couple to a back side of the one or more back plates and the lower wing plate. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more back plates, the lower wing plate bracket, the first C-plate bracket and the second C-plate bracket are configured to be secured to a drum brake plate. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first C-plate bracket is an upper diagonal C-plate bracket and the second C-plate bracket is a lower diagonal C-late bracket. 
     
     
       9. A system for protecting a vehicle comprising:
 one or more back plates that are configured to be secured to an axle of the vehicle, the one or more back plates covering a portion of a back side of a tire connected to the axle; and 
 a fender that is supported by the one or more back plates, the fender extending around an upper portion of the tire; 
 wherein the one or more back plates are secured to the axle via an axle bracket and C-plate brackets. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more back plates are also secured to the axle via a drum brake plate. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more back plates comprise a single back plate. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the C-plate brackets comprise an upper diagonal C-plate bracket and a lower diagonal C-plate bracket. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the C-plate brackets comprise opposing semi-circular cutouts that are configured to receive the axle. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the C-plate brackets are secured to a back side of the axle bracket and the one or more back plates are secured to a front side of the axle bracket.